Victoria Vella

I will donate 1 zero waste period kits to young people with periods so that they can reduce their waste and the financial burden of menstruation while continuing their education.

I will give a shout-out on social media to a local company, coworker, friend or family member for their plastic free or green efforts.

When available, I will purchase clothing and bedding made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.

I will prepare my own pet treats to avoid plastic packaging.

Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 30 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 15 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.

Utilize cloth rather than single use paper towels packaged in plastic,

I will keep 2 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

I will replace my soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions with sustainable, unpackaged, or refillable options.

I will swap out 2 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.

I will keep 3 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.

At July BBQs, bring/use aluminum cups rather than plastic solo cups. Aluminum cups can be reused many times and are infinitely recyclable.

I will replace my pet's shampoo with an eco-friendly shampoo bar or refillable shampoo option.

I will make better choices for the environment and my baby's bum by using reusable baby wipes most or all of the time.

Swap out traditional paper products wrapped in plastic with a sustainable bamboo option packaged in cardboard.

I will teach my little ones about microplastics while we do a craft project together using glitter alternatives.

I will use a microfiber catcher in my laundry, or install a microfiber filter for my washing machine.

When it's time to buy more, I will replace my beauty products with refillable, sustainable, and/or DIY options.

I will replace my disposable razors with steel razors.

I will switch to a plastic-free toothpaste — whether purchased or DIY'd.

I will spend 30 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

I will pick up 2 piece(s) of litter each day.

Single-use plastics are everywhere, but that wasn't always the case. I will spend at least 15 minutes learning about the history of single-use plastics and how it became ubiquitous in our daily lives.

The numbers #1-7 on plastics tell us a lot - and can help us be better recyclers. I will learn what these numbers mean and which types of plastics are accepted for recycling in my area.

The chasing arrows symbol we associate with recycling doesn't always actually mean something is recyclable. I will spend at least 30 minutes learning the different meanings the symbol can have.

Plastic production, not just disposal, pollutes communities and harms people. I will learn about the impacts of plastic production on humans, animals, communities, and the environment.

I will calculate my ecological footprint, and from the results brainstorm and take action on ways I can reduce my annual footprint.

I will conduct a waste audit - including recyclables and compost - to understand how much waste I create and where I can reduce the most.

I will use wool dryer balls or another plastic-free alternative to dryer sheets to keep my clothes static-free.

I will only use reusable containers instead of single-use plastic storage items (such as plastic wrap, single-use sandwich bags).

When possible, I will not use disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags.